PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of protecting his ANC comrade, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, by not acting against him after the release of the Madlanga Commission’s interim report.
On July 13, 2025, Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the commission following allegations by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about a sophisticated criminal syndicate that has allegedly infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system. The commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC, submitted its interim report on December 17, 2025.
Last week, Ramaphosa said in a statement that he had studied the interim report and accepted its recommendations.
“President Ramaphosa further welcomes the referrals by the commission of matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, as well as recommendations on the employment status and recommended suspension of individuals.”
Fourteen officials have been mentioned so far for action to be taken against them, but Mchunu’s name is not among them.
This has sparked accusations that the president is protecting his comrade, while the country continues to pay for two ministers in the same post. In an interview with SABC on Friday, Ramaphosa’s Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said there was no evidence that Ramaphosa is protecting Mchunu. The president is reportedly waiting for the commission to finish its work before deciding on whether to take action against him.
“It’s not a case of Minister Mchunu being defended or protected. There’s no protection. There’s no evidence of the president protecting Minister Mchunu in any way whatsoever,” said Magwenya.
“The fact is, with respect to the Madlanga Commission, the president recognises that what has come out of that commission has contributed to low levels of confidence and law enforcement. “There’s an opportunity to reform the criminal justice system, which will happen when the commission has concluded its work
“The president is a person of due process; he prefers to have due process in place. We have a constitution, and we are a country that ensures that when we deal with people, whether there are allegations against them or not, those people are dealt with in a fair manner, and that’s what the president fundamentally believes in.
“In this particular case, he will act when he needs to act against Minister Mchunu. He doesn’t think he needs to act against Minister Mchunu now, given what he has heard at the commission.
“You can hold the view that he must act now, he holds the view that he will act once the commission has concluded its work because he believes that Minister Mchunu must answer to those allegations and that at the end of the commission’s work, the commission will have findings against Minister Mchunu that he can then reference in his action.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. (South African Government)